Barran Liebman

Tamara E. Russell

Tamara E. Russell
Partner

Barran Liebman LLP
601 SW 2nd Avenue, Suite 2300
Portland, Oregon 97204

Direct Dial: 503-276-2182
Fax: 503-274-1212

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Tamara E. Russell, a partner at Barran Liebman LLP, has devoted her 14-year practice to representing management and employers in a full spectrum of employment law matters in state and federal courts and before state and federal administrative agencies. Tamara is a frequent presenter on legal issues in the human resources field, and has served as editor of the book "Model Policies and Forms for Oregon Employers", published in association with the Associated Oregon Industries, since 2007. Tamara has been listed in the Oregon Super Lawyers magazine since 2008. Tamara has served as a management member of the Oregon Department of Employment's Employment Advisory Council since 2006. Tamara has also worked as a Legislative Correspondent for Sen. Edward M. Kennedy. She received her J.D., with honors, from Boston University School of Law. She is admitted to practice in Oregon and Washington.

Professional Experience and Affiliations

  • Selected for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America, 2011-present
  • Listed in Oregon Super Lawyers as a Rising Star, 2008-present
  • Associated Oregon Industries' Employment Practices Advisory Council
  • Portland Human Resources Management Association
  • Conducted 15 trials and arbitrations
  • Member, Multnomah Bar Association
  • Selected by the Portland Business Journal as one of the 2007 "Forty Under 40"
  • Appointed by Governor Kulongoski as Management member of the Oregon Department of Employment Advisory Council (2006-present)
  • Selected by State Superintendent of Public Instruction, Susan Castillo, to serve as her "Business Advisory Team" (2007)
  • Editor, Model Policies and Forms for Oregon Employees, published in conjunction with the Oregon Associated Industries (2007-present)
  • Portland State University Instructor, Employee and Labor Relations Course (2009-2011)

Community Activities

  • Ambassador Board Member, Dove Lewis
  • Former Director and Volunteer Coordination for the Oregon Symphony Fortissimo Board of Directors
  • Former Member, Oregon Zoo's Corporate Resource Council

Featured Publications

  • Contributor to “What Single Piece of Legal Advice Would You Give Mid-Sized Businesses?” Portland Business Journal, February 3, 2012.
  • "New Year, New Employment Laws: What Employers Need to Know Now," published by Cascade Business News (January 2012)
  • "Tips for Avoiding Independent Contractor Misclassification Scrutiny," published by Cascade Business News (December 2011)
  • "Independent Contractor Classification - Why Bother?," published by Cascade Business News (November 2011)
  • "Best Practices for Conducting Employment Related Investigations," published by Cascade Business News (October 2011)
  • "Essential Components of a Social Media Policy," published by Cascade Business News (August 2011)
  • "New Employment Laws Will Impact Local Companies," published by Cascade Business News (July 2011)
  • "Employment/Labor Law Meets Social Media: Advice for Employers," published by Bureau of National Affairs; Privacy & Security Law Report (2011)
  • "Terminating Employees: A Good Fit?," published by Cascade Business News (June 2011)
  • "Making Sense of Social Media Risk," quoted in the Risk Management Monitor published on-line (May 2011)
  • "Digging the Dirt: Digital Tips for Employers and Job Seekers," published by the Oregon State Bar Bulletin (September 2010)
  • "Employers Face Growing Risk in Accessing Social Media," published by the Daily Journal of Commerce (September 2009)
  • "Model Policies and Forms for Oregon Employers," published by American Chamber of Commerce Resources; 3rd edition (2008-present)
  • "Tips to Meet Requirements of Oregon's Smokefree Law," published by the Portland Business Journal (February 2009)
  • "Model Policies and Forms for Oregon Employers," published by American Chamber of Commerce Resources; 2nd edition (2008)

Featured Presentations

  • 10/06/2011 - Work Place Investigations From A Legal & Practical Perspective - Presented by Barran Liebman LLP & BBSI
  • 09/22/2011 - Barran Liebman LLP Annual Seminar. Retaliation Claims.
  • 09/12/2011 - URMIAs 42nd Annual Conference: The New World of Social Media - Business & Legal Risks for Higher Education
  • 08/09/2011 - Barran Liebman Central Oregon Breakfast Seminar: Youre Fired! The Latest (and Not So Greatest) Developments in Wrongful Termination Law
  • 06/25/2011 - Portland State University Professional Development Center - Employee & Labor Relations Course
  • 05/03/2011 - The New World of Social Media: Business and Legal Risks - RIMS 2011 Annual Conference & Exhibition
  • 03/19/2011 - Portland State University Professional Development Center - Employee & Labor Relations Course
  • 03/10/2011 - Legal Update for Recruiters - Oregon and Southwest Washington Association for Health Care Recruitment (OSWAHCR) Meeting
  • 03/08/2011 - Central Oregon Breakfast Seminar: Spring Employment Law Potpourri
  • 02/09/2011 - Oregon Public Broadcasting Think Out Loud. Complaining on FB. Guest presenter during radio show on recent NLRB case regarding Facebook posting.
  • 10/21/2010 - Central Oregon Breakfast Seminar Series - Independent Contractors: The Slippery Slope
  • 10/08/2010 - PRIMA Annual Conference: Unraveling the Web of Healthcare Reform
  • 10/07/2010 - Oregon Public Risk Management Annual Conference Annual Conference - The Virtual Workplace: Social Networking and Employment Law
  • 09/30/2010 - Barran Liebman LLP Annual Seminar. The Crackdown on Independent Contractor Misclassification.
  • 09/24/2010 - Oregon State Bar Labor & Employment Law 2010: Rising to the Challenge (Employer Liability for Employee Social Networking Web Use)
  • 08/03/2010 - Risk Redux (Independent Contractor Classification Liability) Co-Sponsored with Boly:Welch
  • 07/08/2010 - Train the Trainer: How to Train Supervisors About Sexual Harassment
  • 06/26/2010 and 06/29/2010 - Portland State University Professional Development Center - Employee & Labor Relations Course
  • 04/22/2010 - Central Oregon Breakfast Seminar Series - Train the Trainer Program: How to Train Supervisors About Leave Laws
  • 03/30/2010 - Social Website Dangers for Unwary Employers (Sponsored by ROI Portland)
  • 03/11/2010 Wake Me When Its Over: The New Employment Laws for 2010 (Oregon Southwest Washington Association for Health Care Reimbursement)
  • 03/02/2010 - The Brave New World of Social Media: Business and Legal Risks Webinar (Sponsored by Marsh/FINPRO)
  • 11/19/2009 - AOC 2009 Annual Conference: Tools for Turbulent Times
  • 11/12/2009 - Central Oregon Breakfast Seminar Series: Managing What Your Employees Do in Cyberspace & Outside of the Workplace
  • 11/11/2009 - KATU Channel 2 News - Social Media in the Workplace
  • 10/15/2009 - CHO Breakfast Meeting: Social Media Policies
  • 10/01/2009 - NHRMA 71st Annual Conference & Tradeshow: Best Practices for Handling Difficult Personnel Issues
  • 09/22/2009 - An Employers Guide to Navigating Current Employment Law Issues & Best Practices for Reacting to Downsizing
  • 09/17/2009 - Barran Liebman Annual Labor & Employment Seminar - "Predators of the Social Serengeti: Social Website Dangers"
  • 07/30/2009 - 2009 Legislative Round-Up: What Has The Oregon Legislature and U.S. Congress Done Now?
  • 07/21/2009 - The New FLMA Regulations - What Every Employer Needs to Know
  • 06/24/2009 - Central Oregon Breakfast Seminar. When Its Over Employment Laws at the End of the Employee/Employer Relationship.
  • 06/09/2009 - MBA CLE: Making Good Lawyers Great
  • 06/2009 - Portland State University Professional Development Center. Employee & Labor Relations Course.
  • 05/30/2009 - Portland State University Professional Development Center - Employee & Labor Relations Course
  • 04/07/2009 - American Institute of Architects. Force Reductions, Unemployment and Your Rights as an Employer: What Every Firm Needs to Know.
  • 04/07/2009 - Force Reductions, Unemployment and Your Rights as an Employer: What Every Firm Needs to Know
  • 03/12/2009 - Understanding the New FMLA Regulations: What Every Employer Needs to Know (Bend, OR)
  • 01/21/2009 - Bend Rotary. Understanding the ADA Amendments Act.
  • 01/13/2009 - Central Oregon Breakfast Seminar Series
  • 01/06/2009 - Barran Liebman Breakfast Seminar. Understanding the New FMLA Regulations: What Every Employer Needs to Know.
  • 11/06/2008 - Success Tips from Associates and Partners
  • 09/25/2008 - September 25, 2008. Barran Liebman Annual Employment and Labor Law Seminar. Making Decisions Without Exposure to Regarded as Disabled Protections
  • 08/14/2008 - Oregon Women Lawyers LEG-Up Event
  • 07/31/2008 - Employment Law & the Unmarried Employee

Practice Areas

Bar Admissions

  • Oregon
  • Washington
  • U.S. District Court, District of Oregon
  • U.S. District Court, Western District of Washington
  • U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Washington

Academics

  • Boston University School of Law (J.D., with honors)
  • Edward F. Hennessey Distinguished Scholar
  • Simmons College, Boston (B.A., with honors)